Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger led the Pittsburgh Steelers to another victory Sunday night and managed to take down his last two opponents in record form – notching 6 TD passes in each of his last two games. It seems like nothing could get Big Ben down…well, except for maybe this late hit.

Ben Roethlisberger passed for two touchdowns and wide receiver Antonio Brown added another on a gadget play, helping the Pittsburgh Steelers rally for a 30-23 win over the mistake-prone Houston Texans on Monday night.

For just the second time in the past 11 regular-season games between Pittsburgh and Baltimore, the outcome was decided by more than a field goal, as the Ravens crushed the Steelers 26-6 last night at home.

Solomon Wilcots may have had one season in the black and yellow, but he’s an expert on all things football and he took the time to weigh in on this Thursday’s match-up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Amid numerous controversial stories, there is still football to be played and games to be won. Week two starts with the Ravens and Steelers in an AFC North divisional match-up.

The NFL can’t be happy that its most controversial franchise is playing its primetime game to kick off Week 2. But that’s exactly what’s happening as the Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night (8:25 ET, CBS).

The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted a rookie who made an immediate impact and started opening day was Kendrell Bell in 2001, but first-round draft pick Ryan Shazier has all the skills of an NFL starter and the backing of defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.

The Carolina Panthers cut the face of the franchise, Steve Smith, and let the only other three wide receivers on the roster that caught a pass last season leave as free agents. Tight end Greg Olsen is the only proven receiver returning from last season’s squad. Olsen should be Cam Newton’s favorite target this season.

So it is with my jaded view of the world that I address the Ben Roethlisberger – Emmanuel Sanders feud. Sanders said that his new quarterback, Peyton Manning, is a much better leader than his old quarterback, Big Ben. And thus the verbal jousting began, feathers flexed, talons out.

But no matter how black or gold my allegiance, no matter how nostalgic I feel about them. and no matter how deep the Rooney roots run in NFL history, there’s no excuse for their head coach’s conduct on Thanksgiving.

The endless genius of the NFL can’t be completely quantified. But part of pro football’s popularity is burning its image in our culture and our consciousness. While baseball and basketball have their July 4 and Christmas brands, they are afterthoughts, or leftovers, compared to the NFL’s hallmark roll call.